We had heard it said that you love your kids with a love like no other. It swells up from the bottom of your toes and overflows out of your ears. I believed people but now that we are here with our daughter, I understand what they meant. Her well-being, happiness, contentment, opportunities and growth drive all my actions. No matter how tired I am, if she needs me, I respond. Not everyone (maybe that does not bode well for my character), but not everyone elicits that sort of response. Some folks could garner my excuses for slack behavior, but that little face, ooohhh, that little face, she pulls out love from all sorts of pockets I never knew I had.
Right now, she has no other way in this world to learn about love, grace, joy, and sacrifice than in how we parent her. In our rocking, swaying, kissing, holding, calming, talking and playing we have the opportunity to paint a picture of a Good Father that endlessly loves and supports us. If we do not respond, or respond in frustration, selfishness, and half-heartedness, then we paint a darkened distorted picture of grace.
Oh Lord, please renew our strength to always show the children of this world who You truly are, a loving open-armed Father that never tires of holding us and is never half-hearted.
I am starting to do some cooking and baking again, mostly on the weekends when Stephen is here to love on her while my hands are busy. To be honest though I am sure there is nothing more delicious in this world that I could share than this smile. Enjoy every last second.
